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Alumni Spotlight: Hamline Law alums join forces

This June 2013 Alumni Spotlight was written by Christina Bruno JD ’95.

Transactional lawyer Brad Rapp, JD ’93, knew early on he wanted to return to his home state of Texas to practice law. Now, 25 years later, Rapp is a founder and principal at Rapp & Krock, PC, in Houston, Texas.

In the fall of 2011, Rapp received a call from a friend who put him in contact with Houston transactional lawyer and fellow Hamline Law alum Eric Levenhagen, JD '09. Rapp and Levenhagen had never met, so they arranged to meet for lunch. They kept in touch professionally and the next year, as Levenhagen contemplated changing firms, he and Rapp found their respective practices made for a good fit. Thus, in July 2012, Rapp joined Rapp & Krock, PC, as an associate. Rapp believes this may be the first case of Hamline lawyers practicing together in Houston.

Rapp is admitted to practice before all Texas State Courts and the United States Tax Court. He co-founded Rapp & Krock, PC in 2010 along with Houston attorney Kenneth M. Krock. The firm provides transactional and litigation services to small to medium sized privately held companies and individuals. Rapp concentrates his practice in general business transactional matters including formation, financing, contract drafting and negotiation as well as merger and acquisition activity and tax planning.

Rapp reports technology has significantly impacted transactional work. As a new lawyer in the early 1990’s, Rapp did not have a computer. Today, he redlines documents electronically and makes modifications “on the fly saving countless hours.” Additionally, in a live negotiation with opposing counsel, contract language is modified in real time, the changes are emailed to the client, and Rapp receives an acceptance, a rejection and comments within five minutes.

Like Rapp, Levenhagen is a Texas native, but was raised in “beautiful Minnesota,” and is admitted to practice before all Texas State Courts and the U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts in the Southern District of Texas. Levenhagen concentrates his practice in the area of transactional banking and finance, serving both Texas and local lending institutions. A self-reported “numbers guy,” Levenhagen enjoys working “on the front line” of a deal involving financial institutions. Levenhagen also said changes in technology have made practice more efficient. For example, when working with opposing counsel on proof of a claim, he opens a Google spreadsheet from his desktop, enabling him to makes changes in real time and resolve the matter quickly.

The son of a fighter pilot, Levenhagen maintains a small aviation practice handling aircraft lending, leasing and fractional ownership transactions. Levenhagen solidified his exposure to the airline industry from his work at Northwest Airlines in the Revenue Management Group prior to practicing law. He serves as the membership director and the governing council member of the Aviation Section of the State Bar of Texas.

When not practicing law, Rapp volunteers as a wish coordinator for the Gulf Coast Chapter of the Make-a-Wish Foundation. He coordinates fun-filled wishes like Saturday shopping sprees, special dinners and trips to Disneyland for children diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions. On the weekends, Levenhagen can be found restoring a local food pantry or refurbishing a home for a family in need with the Men’s Leadership at Christ the King Presbyterian Church in Houston.